Lawyer for Mother of 3 Girls Who Police Allege Were Killed by Their Dad Thinks He Died by Suicide (Exclusive)

The attorney representing the mother of the three girls who police allege were killed by their father believes he is no longer alive as the manhunt for him goes into its fourth day.

Travis Decker, 32, was accused by police of killing Paityn Decker, 9, Evelyn Decker, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5, after they were found dead near the Rock Island Campground in Chelan County, Wash. on June 2, PEOPLE previously reported.

Officials believe the girls most likely died by asphyxiation, according to a preliminary report filed with the Chelan County Superior Court, Fox 13 Seattle reported.

According to Wenatchee police, Travis, who picked up the girls for a “planned visitation” on May 30, was not at the scene and has been missing ever since. Police said in a statement at the time that Travis was “homeless and living in his vehicle or at various hotels/motels or at campgrounds in the area.” They also noted that he had prior military experience and were unsure if he was armed.

“[Travis] probably killed himself up there somewhere,” attorney Arianna Cozart, who represents the girls’ mother Whitney Decker, tells PEOPLE.

Since the discovery of the girls’ bodies, the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, the agency leading the investigation, has been searching nearby counties for Travis and has executed several search warrants around the area and on his electronic devices.

“Everybody cares that Travis is found for peace of mind if nothing else,” Cozart says.

According to Cozart, “Travis was a present and active father up until the end” but was dealing with mental health struggles that put a strain on his and Whitney’s seven-year marriage, which ended in 2022.

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“Although Travis was struggling with his own mental health, he was a good co-parent, always communicating frequently with Whitney up until Friday evening when the girls went missing,” she says.  

The attorney notes that Travis, who was an Army veteran, was seeking mental health care but was unable to obtain it. Travis’ declining mental health began to affect his parenting, which led Whitney to limit Travis’ visitation, per a September 2024 court filing reviewed by PEOPLE.

He’d been granted visitations to visit his daughters for three hours on Fridays and eight hours every other weekend, as long as he stayed in Wenatchee Valley, per the filing. He was not granted overnight visits. The schedule was only temporary due to the court process, Cozart says.

After the girls were reported missing, the Washington State Patrol issued an endangered missing person alert for the sisters, which doesn’t send cellphone alerts like an Amber Alert would — a move Whitney believes may have led to a different result, The Seattle Times reported, citing Cozart.

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“[Whitney’s] so strong and she said repeatedly to law enforcement, the thing I want most out of this situation is for this to be fixed, the Amber Alert System and the mental health resources for veterans,” Cozart tells PEOPLE.

The attorney also noted that Travis was “never violent with Whitney or the girls.”

Travis is wanted on charges of murder, kidnapping and custodial interference, police said.

Authorities are asking anyone who has seen Travis to call 911 immediately and do not attempt approach him. People can also call the CCSO tip line at 509-667-6845 or submit information to the tip line.

If you or someone you know needs mental health help, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.